The end has likely come for Jonathan Papelbon and the Red Sox

APJonathan Papelbon has probably thrown his last pitch for the Boston Red Sox.

It's the irony of ironies: Jonathan Papelbon had his best season in years, but it ended with exactly the kind of failure for which critics have blasted him.

The Red Sox closer blew Boston's 3-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth against the Baltimore Orioles in the last game of the season, coughing up three hits and two runs in a 4-3 loss. The Tampa Bay Rays won moments later in Florida, leaving Boston out in the cold during the playoffs.

It was an emotionally jarring loss, without a doubt. But it also marked Papelbon's only loss of the season. He finished with a 4-1 record and 31 saves in 34 opportunities, posting a 2.94 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 84 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings.

Nevertheless, it appears to be almost a foregone conclusion that Papelbon is gone. The team hadn't made him an offer as of Sunday, according to WEEI.com, and lose their exclusive negotiating rights with him Thursday.

Put bluntly: The most prolific closer in Red Sox history will be a free agent, and likely sign with another team.

Color me nostalgic, but I'll miss the big lug. Yes, he had a habit of putting his foot in his mouth. He also had a habit of locking down games that many fans took for granted, though, and gave the Red Sox five sparkling seasons as a closer beginning in 2006. He currently holds the team record with 219 saves, and has had at least 30 every year since taking over the job.

The one exception to his run of dominant seasons was 2010. Papelbon wasn't awful, but he didn't consistently overpower hitters the way he has most of his career. He had a pedestrian 3.90 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and walked a career-high 28 hitters that season. He still had 37 saves, but he blew eight more, putting himself in the crosshairs of fans eagerly awaiting the Daniel Bard-as-closer era.

If Boston's collapse down the stretch this season taught us one thing, it's that there are no sure things. Bard may still be an excellent closer, but he was a definite part of the problem as the Red Sox spun their wheels looking for pitching this fall. He had a 0-4 record and a 10.27 ERA in September, as Boston collapsed with a 7-20 finish.

The Red Sox have many areas to address. Bullpen depth is one. Offense from the corner outfield spots is another.